Hydrangea plant named ‘B2’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea paniculata  plant named ‘B2’ that is characterized by its very short plant height and a very compact plant habit with the habit maintained after 2 years when grown in the landscape, its large panicles relative to its plant size held on strong stems, its upright plant habit, and its sterile flowers that are light green-creamy white in color and become slightly flushed with rose pink as they age.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea paniculata.

Varietal denomination: ‘B2’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2019/2290 filed on Sep. 19, 2019 under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘B2’. ‘B2’ represents a new panicle hydrangea, a perennial shrub grown for landscape use and as a potted plant.

‘B2’ was discovered as a chance seedling by the Inventors in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands in August of 2016. The parent plants are unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings by one of the Inventors in May of 2017 in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘B2’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata.

-   -   1. ‘B2’ exhibits a very short plant height and a very compact         plant habit with the habit maintained after 2 years when grown         in the landscape.     -   2. ‘B2’ exhibits large panicles relative to its plant size held         on strong stems.     -   3. ‘B2’ exhibits an upright plant habit.     -   4. ‘B2’ exhibits suitability as a potted plant.     -   5. ‘B2’ exhibits sterile flowers that are light green-creamy         white in color and become slightly flushed with rose pink as         they age.

‘B2’ can be most closely compared to the Hydrangea paniculata cultivars ‘ILVOBO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,782) and ‘Jane’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,330). Both are similar to ‘B2’ in being considered to have dwarf plant habits. ‘ILVOBO’ differs from ‘B2’ in having sterile flower sepals that are brighter white-light green in color, inflorescences that are more rounded in shape, and a less compact plant habit. ‘Jane’ differs from ‘B2’ in having sterile flower sepals that turn darker pink in fall, inflorescences that are more rounded in shape, and a less compact plant habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs were taken of a two-year-old plant of ‘B2’ as field grown in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands and placed in a 10-liter bucket for the photographs in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of ‘B2’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘B2’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘B2’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of two-year-old plants of ‘B2’ as field grown in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—July and August in the Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Upright and very compact.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches 55 cm in height and 79.5 cm in             spread as a 2-year-old plant in the landscape.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and dense, NN155A and 164A             in color.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—An average of 6 weeks for root initiation             with a finished plant produced in about 12 months.         -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem color.—Young; 144B, mature; 147D, upper surface (sunny             side) 184A, old bark; N199C and 200D.         -   Stem size.—Average of 40.2 cm in length (excluding             inflorescence) and 6 mm in diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Young stems are matte and densely covered with             stiff hairs, average of 0.5 mm in length and match surface             color, mature stems are matte and moderately covered with             lenticels that are an average of 1.5 mm in length and 0.75             mm in diameter, 165C in color.         -   Stem aspect.—Upright, average of 55° to soil level.         -   Internode length.—An average of 6.5 cm.         -   Branching.—Freely branching with an average of 16 lateral             branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse to truncate.         -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface 146B, lower             surface 138C.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 8.8 cm in length and 6.4 cm in             width.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf number.—An average of 16 per lateral stem.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces; matte and slightly rugose,             upper surface sparsely covered with short hairs, average of             0.3 mm in length, too small to measure color, lower surface             very sparsely covered with very short hairs an average of             0.4 mm in length and too small to measure color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137A, young lower surface             146B, mature upper surface; NN137A to NN137B, mature lower             surface; a blend of 147B and 191A.         -   Petioles.—An average of 1.9 cm in length and 1.75 mm in             diameter, upper surface color 144B, lower surface color             144B, tinged with 172B, both surfaces matte, upper surface             sparsely covered with short hairs, average of 0.3 mm in             length, too small to measure color, lower surface very             sparsely covered with very short hairs an average of 0.4 mm             in length and too small to measure color. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal conical panicle, comprised of             sterile flowers above fertile flowers.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile flowers; persistent             for an average of 6 weeks, fertile flowers; self-cleaning,             an average of 5 days.         -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 21.9 cm in height and 17.7             cm in diameter.         -   Flower number.—An average of 350 sterile flowers and 1,600             fertile flowers per panicle.         -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.         -   Flower aspect.—Sterile flowers; held upright to outward and             slightly drooping, fertile flowers; held upright from             peduncle.         -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; up to 3.1 cm in diameter and 1             cm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 6 mm in diameter             and 3 mm in depth.         -   Flower type.—Sterile flowers rotate, fertile flowers rotate,             dropped when mature.         -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; an average of 6 mm in length             and 9 mm in diameter, cup-shaped, 145C in color, fertile             flowers; an average of 3 mm in length and diameter, obovate             in shape, color; 145B to 145C, top 65A, immature calyx 147D.         -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; 4 (occasionally 5), ovate to             concave in shape, acute apex, entire margins, cuneate base,             up to 2.5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, both surfaces;             glabrous and matte, color when opening and fully open upper             surface 157B, changing to 157D at the margins, color when             opening and fully open lower surface 157D, fertile flowers;             4 (occasionally 5), rotate and cruciform in shape, ovate to             concave in shape, acute apex, cuneate base, entire margins,             average of 2.5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, both             surfaces glabrous and matte, color; upper surface when             opening and fully open 157B, changing to 157D at the             margins, lower surface when opening and fully open 157D,             petals drop at maturity.         -   Peduncles.—Primary peduncles; strong, flattened oval in             shape, an average of 3 cm in length and 2 mm in width.             secondary peduncles 2 cm in length and 2 mm in width, 157A             in color, surface is matte and moderately covered with thin             pubescence an average of 0.4 mm in length and 145D in color.         -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; moderate strength, an average of             1.7 cm in length and 1 mm in width, 157A in color, surface             is pubescent, held at a 60° angle, 145D in color, surface is             matte and moderately covered with thin pubescence an average             of 0.4 mm in length and 145D in color, fertile flowers;             moderate strength, an average of 1.5 mm in length, 0.5 mm in             diameter, held at a 20° angle, 145D in color, surface is             matte and densely covered with thin pubescence an average of             0.4 mm in length and 145D in color.         -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; 4 (occasionally 5), rotate, broad             ovate to elliptic and broadly obovate in shape, obtuse to             broadly bluntly acute apex, rounded to cuneate base, entire             margins, cuneate base, up to 1.8 cm in length and 1.6 cm in             width, both surfaces; glabrous and matte, color; upper             surface when opening 150D, changing to 150C at the base,             lower surface when opening 150D, upper surface when fully             open color between 145B and 145C, lower surface when fully             open 145C, upper and lower changing to 186D as they age in             fall, fertile flowers; 5, rotate, near deltoid in shape,             broad acuminate apex, broad cuneate base, entire margins, 1             mm in length, 1.5 mm in width, both surfaces glabrous and             matte, upper and lower surface when opening and fully open             144C in color.         -   Bracts.—Sterile flowers; 2 alternately to nearly opposite             are present on each pedicel, oblanceolate in shape, narrow             acute apex, narrow cuneate base, entire margins, 8 mm in             length, 3 mm in width, upper surface color 144D, lower             surface color 145C, fertile flowers. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; not present, fertile flowers; 3             pistils, an average of 1.25 mm in length, stigma;             club-shaped and 155C in color, style; 0.75 mm in length,             157D in color, ovary is 147D in color.         -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; stamens; average of 8,             filaments; 1 mm in length and 157D in color, anthers; broad             oblong in shape, 0.5 mm in length, 155A in color, pollen;             moderate in quantity, 155D in color, fertile flowers;             stamens; average of 8, filaments; 2 mm in length, 157B in             color, anthers; broad oblong in shape, 0.5 mm in length,             155A in color, pollen; moderate quantity, 155D in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘B2’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 